Diaphragm chuck



Dec. 4, 1951 Filed Nov. 4, 1949 G. HOHWART ETAL. 2,577,656

DXAPHRAGM CHUCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 H 1% V EN To?. a e Wd,"

G. HoHwART E-rAx. 2,577,656

Dec. 4, 1951 DIAPHRAGM CHUCK Filed Nov. 4, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 We? /2 fz/ 5 4 l z .90 /4 VH: .man A 92 a in 57 J5 w Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UilSIITilEDV FFICE y trimmen CHUCK:

GeorgeHilwa'rtand*rnestfE Hohwar't, Dtroit, Mich'., assigvnrstN. Ai Woodworth Company, Fernda1e,1Mich., a' corporationiof/Michigan ApplicationNvember 4, 1949,7Serial No. 12.5;60'6f connus. (c1. 27:)463' This invention relates broadly 'to sli'prings'ioi" sealing relatively'rotatablel parts' against' fluid pressurev and `more'-particularly to a diaphragm chuckv which includes aslipringofbthis character; and is uniquely constructed so-that operating' air can be introduced radiallyfintothe chuck body.'

An important object of the" presentinventon is to provide ain'oveim'eansifr sealing relatively rotatable partsc against fluid' pressure:

Another-f object of'fthel 'inventionris to provide: means 'off the Yalcove-ngention'ed: character that" normally oifersl'little* uresistance tomrotati'o'n of the partei-whereby to minimieiriction lossesU and wear'b'etween the parts.

Still another objectief lthe 'invention is tipr'ol Vide *af novel sealing meansV that v`n't` only seals the relatively rotating parts but also'- actsasa/ brake yin response Ato fluidpressureto check rotation of thelparts.

Yet another object ofthe invention to :provide a sealing rin'g"` of the'- above-mention'edfv character" that is. primarily adaptedhand .preeminently 'suited fordiaphragm.: chucks `of' the type wherein the workmust.extenddthroughthe center of the-'chuck oneven into and through the machine spindle ori-Which lthe ychuckisf` mounted.

A further object of the invention is tonprovidef a Asealing .ring of theabove-zmentioned` character l that canl` -be used on Ysubstantially'A any.V :typefoff air-operated chuckm or equivalent device;

A still further objectf'of the''inventionliisjfto` provide a diaphragm chuck'in which operating? air can be :introducedfradially nter the-*chuck assembly;

Other 4objects and advantages of the-.invention will be apparent during -the course'ofthefl-y lowing description.'

Inthe drawings formingfapartiofthis speci-- cation' and` wherein? lik'einumeral's' are" emploi/edi to designate-like Vparts :throughout 'the Arsarne: f

Fig; .l is. a longitudinal' sectional. viewf'throu'ghl a-` diaphragm chuck and'k showing-theSsamel'conl structed to accommodate La. sealing'lrin'geniboc'lyL i ingthe-present invention ;V

Figi v3 is." adongitudingal .sectionarvewf Sunil-ar; to.' Figi; 1 but showing-i a modied sealiiagzrig embodying the'finventiomf Z, AFig. llista transverse sectionall View tak'en onl tiie-iinefa-a Greig: 3; y

Fig." 5l an`l enlarged sectional View of the por-A tion of Fig. 3 enclosed inthe circle/"5 showing l the sealing ring'V positioned to release the chuck;

and

Fig. 6"is"a View similarto Fig. 5 but-showing the sealing ring' positionedtoengagethe chuck.

In' thefdrawings* theinvention is sh'own embodied,"by"way of illustration, in' a diaphragm chuck ofthegeneraltype showll` in our copen'df ing'L application Serial" No'. 6832458,- which was ledJuly 13,` 1946,v nowPltent Number 254911511, issued December*'ZELv 1%9; although, inthe conwhat toaccomrnodate an airfeed slip ringfand` topermit the workto extend-back into the chuck r and spindle. This type of installation is'nec'es sary-when the kworkpiece has a'f-lonfgj projection thatniust beiacconiniodated behind the lgripping' jaws off-:the chuck." Frifexample, Aso-cal1ed longe" drive pinionsare "forriiedwith a* relatively long sha'fi'l, andthe pinion is ndesiraloly mounted in the'chuck' with theshaft extending back'into the; chuckf Further',` whentl'e work-is'fftubiilar o'rbarstocle; it"`may'-`exten`d entirelyjthrough the chuck-prevn into" and through the spindle on wlii'chithe'fchuck-is=mounted. Y

In installations ofthe typeheieinabove' del scribed, operating air cannot be fedftoth'e chuck' through? thev center of `thefspin'd1e as shownin ourprier application. If `'the' chuck' is `to` be op'eratedby` air, the air"o`f"necess'ity must be" supplied through theoutside diameteri ofthe chuck. l\'/Ireover,I the ai-rcohnectin'-must'be suchas to'leat/etheffron't face of thechuck clear fr the work'andf the` tools `which operate on the work.

I-Iretfoi-ef conside'rable` diflic'ulty has been encountered in supplying? air radially intov the chuck since the latter rotatesvrapidlyfin use and itis necessary-to-mantainan essentially tightseal-*at all times between" the connection 'and the ch'ucklbody.` Forpractical reasoiisjlthe` air con'- n'ectionfmustl-not' appreciably brake orfcheck rotationVI o'f the chucki while ltlieflatter is'A rotat` ably driven. Also;ra-f-iconnectionewould beunsatisfactor'yfrom a' practical standpointif excessive 4wear'occurred betweenthe -partsso as to reduire constant" repair'or repla'cement\` of parts inf-'order tomaintain a1 ti'glfitf-'seal lbtweerif'tl'e" connectionandrftneacnuckibody. Anim alithe proble o'fsupplying operatingilairito thefchuck t interferenceflr'that poltonhof "the r workrwhichlextends Lback :into ftneff'cnubk tand-1 driving spindle, without interfering with the tools which operate on the work, and without checking or appreciably retarding the rotational speed of the chuck or resulting in excessive wear of parts has been a very real one in this art.

The diaphragm chuck here shown has a tubular spindle I8, and the spindle is provided at the forward end thereof with a radial flange I2. A chuck body I4 is fastened to the flange by screws I6. According to the present invention, the

chuck body I4 is formed in two separable front and rear sections I8 and 28. The rear section 20 is generally annular in shape and is formed at the rearward end thereof with a radial flange 22 which receives the fastening screws I6. At the periphery of flange 22 is a rearwardly projecting annular lip 24 which surrounds the periphery of spindle flange I2. An annular series of radially disposed set screws 26 carried by the lip 24 engage the flange I2 at angularly or circumferentially spaced points and provide means for centering the chuck precisely on the spindle.A

I'he front section I8 also is generally annular in shape, and the rearward edge thereof abuts against the forward edge of therrear section 28, as shown in Fig. 1. An annular series of screws 28 fasten the two sections I8 and 28 together.

Intermediate its ends the front section I8 is formed with a radial partition 30 and the usual backing plate 32 is fastened'to the forward end thereof by screws 34. the partition 30 and backing plate 32 are spaced axially on the chuck body, and these two elements cooperate to denne a cylinder 36. A piston 38 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 36, and an O ring 40 on the periphery of the piston effects a seal between the piston and the surrounding cylinder Wall.

A generally cup-shaped diaphragm 42 ts over the periphery of backing plate 32 and preferably is welded or brazed thereto. The diaphragm 42 is formed with a central opening 44, and a plurality of work-clamping jaws 46 are arranged concentrically around the opening. 'The jaws 46 are carried by respective back-up blocks 48 which are welded or otherwise fastened to the diaphragm 42, and screws 50 fasten the jaws to the blocks. Counterweights I `are provided on the tion thereof within the cylinder is formed to provide a rearwardly facing radial shoulder 58- which abuts against the forward face of piston 38. Air under pressure isY supplied `to the cylinder 36 behind piston 38 through a passage 60,

and an O ring 62 seals the annular space between partition 38 and the tube 52. At its for,- ward end the tube 52 abuts against the diaphragm 42 around the central opening 44. Thus the tube 52 serves to transmit force axially between the piston 68 and the diaphragm 42.

In practice, the diaphragm 42 normally positions the jaws 46 to clamp the work. In order to release the work, force is applied to advance piston 38, and the piston acts through tubular member 52 to ex the diaphragm forwardly. Flexure of the diaphragm -in this manneryreleases the jaws 46 kfrom the work so that the latter can be removed from the chuck. Also,it

It will be observed thatl will be readily apparent that it is necessary to move the jaws 46 to work-releasing position in order to insert a workpiece in the chuck. This procedure for chucking a workpiece and for operating the jaws of the chuck is conventional and forms no part of the present invention.

Operating air is delivered to the supply passage 60 through a novel slip-ring connection embodying the present invention. In this connection it will be observed that the front and rear sections of the chuck body I4 are formed substantially at the juncture thereof with external radial shoulders 64 and 66 which, together with the intervening peripheral surface 68, of the front section I8, define an external annular groove in the chuck body. Also, it will be observed that the outer end of air passage 68 opens into the groove adjacent the forward wall 64.

An air-feed slip ring 'I8 mounted in the groove affords a connection between a suitable source of air under pressure and the air passage 60. The ring 18 is provided with an air inlet l2 which Vthreadedly receives an air-supply pipe 4 which delivers air under pressure to the chuck from a suitable source (not shown). A port 'I6 inthe ring 18 provides communication between the air inlet 'I2 and the passage 68, and an annular groove 'I8 extends around the inner surface of the ring at the juncture of the port 'I6and the passage 60 from the supply pipe 'I4 has free access to the cylinder 36.

Manifestly, pipe 'I4 holds the ring 18 stationary at all times during operation of the chuck, and the ring 'I0 therefor is made to have a running lt both axially and radially so as to reduce to a minimum any frictional resistance between the ring and the chuck body I4. The slip ring 'I8 preferably is made of high-grade bronze, although it can be made of any suitable, nonferrous, springlike metal having good wearing qualities.

In order to prevent running clearances between ring 'I0 and chuck body I4 from causing excessive escape of air, the ring is formed adjacent the side 88 thereof with a relatively deep, narrow, radial groove 82 which opens onto the inner annular face of the ring and into the annular groove 18. The groove 82 defines a thin, inherently flexible wall section 84 between the groove and the adjacent side 88 of the ring. Further, in order to increase the flexibility of the wall section 84, the flat side wall 88 of the ring is undercut, as at 86. It will be observed that the undercut portion 86 is centrally located in and extends over approximately half the width of the surface 86. Also, the undercut 86 is sufciently deep to reduce the thickness of the wall section 64 by approximately one-half.

Thus, air under pressure supplied to the chuck enters the groove 82 and exertsl pressure against the inner face of the wall section 84. By reason ofk its inherently flexible nature, the wall section 84 is pressed outwardly against the chuck body by fluid pressure within the groove 82. Lateral flexing of the wall section 84 in effect expands the ring T8 and Veffects pressed frictional engagement between both sides of the ring and the adjacent radial walls or shoulders 64 and 66. The

result is a diaphragm seal action' betweenthe ring and the chuck body which effectivelyprevents excessive leakage of air around the ring. Moreover, the sealing action thus obtained is proportional tothe airpressure applied. In other words,'the sealing action becomes progressively greater as the air pressure in groove 82 increases.

In connection with-thexforegoing, it should be.v noted that some: air does. escape around :the ring` 10, but :the Aamount of fair lost :in '.thisfmanner isv not sufficient toaffect the air pressure in the cylinder 36 toany appreciable extent. As arnatter of fact, we have found that the slight amount.

of air-which does escape around-.the ring 1S keeps joints betweenthe relativelyrmoving parts cleanY at all times; Thiais-particularly beneficial in a devicevoi"y this character which frequently is .used to hold work for grinding or other 4operations which create a-greatdeal of dust and grit.-

In operation, air is suppliedunder pressureto the air inlet 12 and thence enters the cylinder- Svbehind piston SB-thl'oughvport lli,- annular groove lT8, and passage' 60'.

At the end `of the work cycle, the rotary drive is disengaged from spindle IG, and 'air pressure is turnedA on to release the work. During this portion of the operating cycle, the ring l!) serves a double vfunction in-the combination oproviding a connection between the. air-supply means and the chuck and also acts as a brake against the chuck body to check rotational speed of the. latter so that the work can be removed relatively quickly. Normally the chuck continues to rotate due to inertia for a while after the drive to the spindle ID hasbeen disengaged, and it is desirable to bring the chuck to an abrupt stopas soon as possible so as to shorten the unloading and loading time. In fact manyhigh-speed production machines are equipped with automatic brakes for this very purpose. However, in the case of the present invention, an eective braking action is supplied bythe air-feed slip ring '10. Moreover, the braking action is applied automatically andrfat-,exactlythe proper moment in the operating cycle by the sealing action of the ring end faces against the side walls of the-grooveA in the chuck body. Thus. as a result of 'the pres ent construction,- two vital vsynchronized actions, sealing: and braking, are performed .sirnul-ta.u neously bythe slip ring 70.

The form of the invention shown in Figs.: 3 6 is generally similar to the form hereinabove described, except that a modiedl slip; ring lis'sui,- stituted for the slip ring IQ.

The ring 9G is generally similar in size and shape to the ring 10 and nts in a similar manner in the external groove defined by surfaces S4. S6, and 68. In the instant construction, however, the exible wall section 84 is replaced by an annular movable wall or piston 92 which oper ates in a rabbet recess 9d in the ring 90. In this connection, it will be observed that the recess Q5 opens inwardly and through one side of the ring 9D. The piston 92 is normally spaced from the inner radial wall of the recess 96 to denne an annular groove or chamber 95 which corresponds to the groove i8 in the first form of the invention. An O ring 98 seals the joint between the periphery of piston 92 and the con- Air pressure in thecylinder advances piston 38 the latter" 6i fronting axial or circumferential-surfaceoffre-1 cess ;94. under pressure from leaking between the :periphery of the piston 92.' and-the recess 94 and at the same time permits the piston to be freely movable laterally in the recess. The inner axial surface of .piston 92 preferably extends flush with` the inner axial surface of ring as clearly shownzin-the drawings so that the ring assembly ts'properly in the chuck. The pipe T4" is con--v nected to the slip ring 90 as in the form of the invention rst described, and the pipe similarly introduces air or other duid under pressure into the chamber 96 for operation of the chuck. It willbereadily apparent that the external radial surface lllfof. the ring 9B and the external radial' surface |2 of the piston 92 constitute pressure surfaces arranged to .engage the radial walls 64 and E6 of the chuck to brake the latter when it is desired to stop the chuck and remove the work.

In Anormal operation, the surfacesy lll'and |02 are released from their respective confronting surfaces 6G and E5 so as to provide a loose running tbetween the slip-ring .assembly and the chuck (Fig. 5). However, when air under pressure is introduced in to the'chuck through pipe 'I4 to release the work, the slip-ring assembly operates substantially in the same manner as inthe form of the invention'flrst described ltobrake or check rotation of the chuck.` Air-under pressure in chamber 96 acts against theinner radial face of piston; 92 and urgesthe; latter latera11y=from recess 94 to the position shown in Fig` 6 and: .l presses the outer radial surfaces |00 and |02 solidly against the confronting surfaces 66 and B4 to checkrotation of the chuck.

In connection with the foregoing, it shouldbe pointed out-that the O ring 98 serves adouble function in the combination of sealing the'joint between the piston 92 and the sealingfring Quand also of retracting the piston 92 from the extended position shown in Fig. 6 substantially immediately when the fluid pressure in chamber Sii` is relieved. When'piston 92 is retracted as shown in Fig. 5, 0 ring 98 is generally symmetrical in cross section However, when the. piston is ad-- vanced as shown in Fig. 6,` the O. ring is distorted into an oblong, cross-sectional shape as shown in the drawings. This phenomenon-.occurs because the piston travel is relatively short, and movement of the piston is accommodatedsubstantially entirely by flexure of the 0 ringl 98. In practice, very little, if any, slippage occurs between the O ring 98 and the confronting axial wall of the rabbet recess 94. Internal stresses thus created in 0 ring B8 when the piston 92 advances act to retractthe piston immediately when pressure thereon is released.

It will be readily apparent that-all of the advantages hereinabove described in connection with the preferred form of the invention also obtain for the modied construction last described.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. In combination with a machine having relatively rotatable parts, an annular groove at the juncture of said parts and each part defining a radial side wall of said groove, a ring in said groove normally having a running t with said side walls, said ring having a laterally exible portion, a uid chamber behind said portion, and a fluid inlet for said chamber, and means for introducing uid under pressure into said chamber, whereby uid pressure in the chamber flexes Theiring V98. prevents air orotheriiuid.v

the exible portion laterally outwardly against the adjacent side wall of the groove to effect a sealing frictional engagement between said ring and the side walls of said groove.

2. In combination with a machine having relatively rotatable parts provided with confronting radial shoulders, a ring between and having a running fit with said shoulders to permit relatively easy rotation between the rotatable and stationary parts, said ring having a radial groove disposed in close proximity to one side wall thereof and said groove defining a thin, essentially flexible, radial flange, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into said groove whereby to flex said flange laterally against the adjacent shoulder to assure a sealing frictional engagement between the ring and said shoulder.

3. In combination with a machine having relatively rotatable parts, an annular groove at the juncture of said parts and each part defining a radial side wall of said groove, a ring in said groove normally having a running fit with said side walls to permit relatively easy rotation between the stationary and rotatable parts, said ring having an internal annular surface and provided with a channel extending radially outwardly from said surface, said channel disposed in close proximity to one side of the ring to dene a thin, laterally flexible flange between the channel and the mentioned side of the ring, and means for introducing fluid under pressure into said channel, whereby to flex said flange laterally against the adjacent side wall of the groove and thus effect a substantially uidtiglit seal between the ring and said parts.

4. In a machine, a pair of elements at least one of which is rotatable relative to the other, said elements having spaced, annular surfaces arranged in opposed relation and concentric to the axis of said rotatable element, fluid-actuated means having a fluid-supply duct opening between said annular surfaces, and a stationary ring mounted between and having a running nt with said annular surfaces, said ring provided with a fluid passage communicating with said supply duct and having a laterally flexible portion exposed to fluid in said passage and adapted to be flexed laterally into pressed frictional engagement with the adjacent annular surface by pressure fluid in the passage whereby to assure a sealing frictional engagement between the ring and the said annular surfaces.

5. In combination with a machine having relatively rotatable parts, an annular groove at the juncture of said parts and each part defining a radial side wall of said groove, a ring in said groove normally having a running fit with said side walls, said ring having a laterally movable wall, a fluid chamber behind said wall, and a fluid inlet for said chamber, and means for introducing uid under pressure into said chamber, whereby fluid pressure in the chamber moves said wall laterally outwardly against the adjacent side wall of the groove to effect a sealing frictional engagement between said ring and the side walls of said groove.

6. A sealing ring having a radial surface at one side and an annular rabbet recess opening inwardly and through the opposite side thereof, an annular piston in said recess movable laterally from the recess and having an outer radial sealing surface, and resilient means Sealing the joint between the periphery of the piston and the confronting wall of said recess, said resilient means normally holding said piston retracted in the recess and adapted to bev flexed by movement of the piston laterally from the recess and operative to retract said piston to its initial position as soon as force tending to advance the piston is relieved.

7. A ring having an outer radial sealing surface and an annular groove, a laterally movable annular wall forming one side of the groove and having an outer radial sealing surface on the side of the ring remote from said first-mentioned sealing surface, and resilient means between the ring and said wall, said resilient means adapt-ed to be tensioned when said wall is moved laterally in the ring and operable to return the wall to its initial position as soon as pressure against the wall is relieved.

8. A sealing ring having a radial sealing sur face at one side and an annular rabbet recess opening inwardly and through the opposite side thereof, a piston in said recess movable laterally from the recess and having an outer radial sealing surface, and means sealing the joint between the periphery of the piston and the confronting wall of said recess.

9. A ring having an outer radial sealing surface and an annular groove, a laterally movable annular wall forming one side of the groove and having an outer radial sealing surface at the side of the ring remote from said first-mentioned sealing surface, and means providing a iluidtight connection between the ring and said wall.

GEORGE HOHWART. ERNEST F. HOHWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,210,088 Longfleld Aug. 6, 1940 2,230,881 Browne Feb. 4, 1941 2,383,084 Walden Aug. 2l, 1945 2,400,658 Shepherd May 2l, 1946 2,459,643 Hartley Jan. 18, 1949 

